College/Career Planning

Xavier is committed to helping students reach their college and career goals.  This starts early with the selection of challenging classes taught in a supportive environment where students can truly challenge themselves.

A great academic foundation is a critical first step in the college planning process.  As a next step, it is important for students to get to know themselves, their goals and their interests. Required yearly Guidance classes, Naviance Family Connection and job shadows & internships through Workplace Learning Connection will all help students with this.

Xavier’s college counseling program, headed by Mrs. Cara Joens, works with students and families individually to align a student’s strengths and interests with programs and colleges that offer them.  While college preparation is part of the entire guidance curriculum, it is our goal to understand each student’s needs.  We do this by individual conferences in a student’s junior and senior year to help ensure they are on the right path.

If, at any time, you have a question about college planning, please feel free to contact Mrs. Joens directly: cara.joens@xaviersaints.org   319-739-7313.

High School Transcripts & Test Scores

Xavier High School sends high school transcripts directly to the college electronically in Naviance Student and students request these through Naviance. Most colleges will not accept ACT scores from a high school. Students will need to log into their account at ACT.org to send their scores to colleges.

Letters of Recommendation

Academic letters of recommendation are sent directly by the faculty to the colleges. The student should ask a faculty member for a letter of recommendation as soon as they are aware that they will need one. It is the student’s responsibility to check if a college requires more than one teacher letter of recommendation. After they ask the teacher in person, the student should complete both their resume and a letter of recommendation request in Naviance Student.

Scholarship applications that require letters of recommendations are handled differently. Scholarship recommendations do not go through Naviance. Each scholarship application may require different methods of submission for these letters though. Please refer your application for specific information.